Paddington Bear - Show News, Reviews, Recaps and Photos - TV.com EDIT Although Paddington now lives in London, England, he originally came from Darkest Peru where he was brought up by his Aunt Lucy after he was orphaned following an earthquake when he was just a few weeks old. When Aunt Lucy went to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima, she decided to send him to England to live. After teaching him to speak English she arranged for him to stow away in a ship's lifeboat. Eventually, Paddington arrived on Paddington Station in London which is where the very first story begins with the words: "Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform. In fact, that was how he came to have such an unusual name for a bear for Paddington was the name of the station." The Browns were at the station to meet their daughter Judy when Mr. Brown spotted a bear sitting all alone on a suitcase, behind a pile of mail bags, close to the lost property office. The bear was wearing nothing but a hat and he had a label round his neck bearing the words "Please Look After This Bear.

Thank You." ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE SHOW: MR.BROWN: works in the City of London. Little did he realise what lay in store for him the day he invited Paddington into his home. Redecorating nightmares, kitchen catastrophes, gardening mishaps – there's no end to the messes his house guest gets into. To Mr. Brown's credit, however, he never loses his temper with Paddington, treating him as one of his own family and even giving him a weekly allowance. Mrs. Brown: is very good-natured. She takes Paddington's mishaps in her stride, always looking on the bright side of his latest debacle. She does her best to familiarise him with his new surroundings, taking Paddington out shopping and even entrusting him with the odd errand. Occasionally, Mrs. Brown is struck by an ominous sense of foreboding just before Paddington lands himself in yet another spot of trouble. Jonathan and Judy: are the Browns' two children. They are intelligent and well-behaved and so, unlike many parents, the Browns were spared the usual problems associated with bringing up a family … that is, until Paddington arrived on the scene!

Jonathan and Judy love having a bear about the house and are often on hand to help Paddington with his latest project or out of his latest predicament. Mrs. Bird: runs the Brown household. She is strict and knowing but also compassionate and understanding when she needs to be – which is more often than not when it comes to Paddington. She is a housekeeper, cook and nanny all in one and it is difficult to imagine the Browns getting along without her. Unlike the rest of the family who may be genuinely mystified when they discover Paddington's latest mishap, Mrs. Bird always knows who is responsible. She knows Paddington well and is usually the first to put two and two together. She is incisive, occasionally intimidating but ever-forgiving of Paddington's frequent mistakes. mr. Gruber: is Paddington's close friend and confidant. He has an affinity with Paddington since they both emigrated to England, in Mr. Gruber's case from his native Hungary. Mr. Gruber owns an antiques shop in the nearby Portobello Road and most days Paddington stops by at the baker's shop to buy some buns before taking them to share with Mr.

Gruber over a mug of cocoa for their "elevenses" (mid-morning snack). The two get along famously and the shy, soft-spoken Mr. Gruber treats Paddington as an equal, referring to him as Mr. Brown as they chat over cocoa and buns. He is the one Paddington turns to when in need of information, an explanation or, quite simply, pleasant company. Mr. Curry is the Browns' next-door-neighbour and he is a dour, humourless man, forever trying to take advantage of Paddington. A penny-pincher, he is always trying to get something for nothing – especially from Paddington. Mr. Curry's trademark roar of Beeaar! is a common sound in Windsor Gardens as, once more, Paddington comes out on top! Aunt Lucy is Paddington's aunt and she lives in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima, Peru. Since she brought Paddington up he looks upon her as a mother figure and keeps in contact with her through a regular exchange of postcards. When she came over to England to stay with the Browns she left almost as much chaos in her wake as her young nephew!

moreless Paddington Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 143 out of 164 people found the following review useful: Quintessentially British, Irresistibly Warm from Worcester, England 10 December 2014 I have to state this before continuing with this review, prior to seeing this I was very reluctant and hesitant as to what I was due to view. After growing up hearing the stories and watching the animated tales of Paddington Bear, I was unsure as to whether a CGI-heavy live- action tale could really establish a story that portrays the bear in all his charm, well my predictions were woefully inaccurate. 'Paddington' is a very well-executed adaptation of the titular bear for a 21st century audience. From the producers of Harry Potter, 'Paddington' delivers a family-friendly and charming atmosphere whilst conveying an endearing and gloriously comedic tale about a bear and his adventures in London. One of the late and great films of the year, Paul King's irresistibly warm story creates a sense of nostalgia whilst boasting a quintessentially British feel and pitch-perfect humour that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Was the above review useful to you?

69 out of 90 people found the following review useful: An Instant Classic from United Kingdom 28 November 2014 I loved it. It didn't matter to me that myself and my husband were watching it without the cover of escorting children, family movies are probably one of the most satisfying things out there to watch when done as well as this one was. Cute is an understatement to describe Paddington Bear: he is simply warm and cuddly and I fell for him wholeheartedly. I may even add PB to my Christmas list of wants, even at my great old age. Adult comedies can engender one or two laughs, if you're lucky, but this family fun trip had me and the audience laughing throughout (apart from the odd serious moments where it wouldn't have been right to do so). Everything was right: the colours, the cast (except I'm not a fan of Nicole Kidman: her pert nose, pert bum or whispered speech), and again...I was entranced by the great warmth of the entire piece. Folks, go see this one, whatever your age, with kids or without. You'll all love it, I'm sure.

My hubby hadn't wanted to see it, but he thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended. I'm sure it will grace many TV screens at many Christmases for many years to come. Was the above review useful to you? 53 out of 71 people found the following review useful: Watch out for the world's most wanted bear from Hong Kong 2 January 2015 OK, I must admit when I looked at the film poster, I had asked myself: How could a feature length film about a British family adopting a CGI talking bear be good? That's why I went into the theater with zero expectation, and Paddington proves to be a huge surprise. As soon as I walked into the theater, I could see I'm the oldest one (excluding those parents), and I did feel a tiny bit embarrassed - sitting alone surrounded by hyperactive children. But then, as the film goes, I found out watching Paddington is one of the best decisions I've made recently, and that is not exaggerating, because as I watched that little talking bear roam around London, I found the inner child inside of me who's been lost for quite some time.

I have never laughed and screamed so freely along with those children and I feel totally not out of place. Needless to say, Paddington is fabulously British, and as a Potterhead (proudly saying so), I recognized a LOT of familiar faces (and voices). Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Imelda Staunton, even Michael Gambon, and so many more other spectacular actors and actresses are housed in this 95-minutes film. They are one of the major reasons the film is so appealing. The screenplay of the film is impeccably crafted with totally hilarious, literally LOL jokes (some written particularly for children, and some more naughtier ones I'm sure only the parents would get), and also with moments of warmth so sincerely written that my heart has never been so molten before. Paddington truly is a surprising movie, and it surely is the best non-animated family film made in 2014. It is ridiculous yet believable. Unlike the increasing amount of farces that call themselves "comedies", Paddington is truly hilarious and heartwarming with a story that is so rich and compelling.

And I would recommend Paddington to anyone, and if you have not watched it yet, go watch it and you will find it's the best decision you've ever made. Was the above review useful to you? 35 out of 49 people found the following review useful: An immediate classic! from United States 17 January 2015 This is, without doubt, one of the funniest and most heartwarming films that I expect to see in my life. A true "Family" film, it should appeal to children of all ages as well as to adults who are still children at heart. The cast is perfection, and the director has been truly inspired. The extra touches in both sight and sound that he brings to the film are brilliant - but I shan't specify what they are, for fear of spoiling the surprises. The film walks a fine line being cute at times, but it never becomes cloying or overly sweet. Paddington lives. I quickly forgot that he was a CGI and simply accepted him as another part of the cast. Even if you have no children to take with you, you should see this film. Was the above review useful to you?

31 out of 45 people found the following review useful: A Timeless Masterpiece from United Kingdom 1 January 2015 This is an instant classic. The raw materials, a heart-warming, but lightweight children's story are not the obvious stuff of a great film,the hybrid real life and cgi high risk. But it works, spectacularly. Translated into over thirty languages, and comprising over twenty books, the simple adventures of an anthropomorphised bear from darkest Peru have enchanted parents and children alike. Hamish McColl has done a fabulous job with the screenplay creating a story inspired by events in the books, but not telling a particular previous story. The ingredients are carefully crafted. Casting is almost perfect. Hugh Bonneville is an arch paternal figure, a role popularised with his stint at Downton Abbey, a series which has enjoyed great success in the United States, broadening the film's transatlantic appeal. Nicole Kidman is wonderful in her baddie, Cruella de Ville incarnation as Millicent. All dads will love the lingering shots of her from the soles of her vertiginous heels upwards.

She flounces and pounces and generally has the most fun, particularly when enhanced by her no-hoper admirer Mr Curry (Peter Capaldi). The kids, play cameo roles well, housekeeper Julie Walters is a dotty delight with prodigious drinking game skills. The only character I didn't quite buy was Sally Hawkins as the wife. Very Boho and Notting Hill, she didn't quite convince opposite Hugh Bonneville as his wife. At the eleventh hour crisis struck the production when Colin Firth left the production as the voice of Paddington. But sweet are the uses of adversity, and Ben Wishaw stepped in to capture the spirit and essence of the bear perfectly. Director Paul King creates a wonderfully British landscape without wallowing in nostalgia too much. Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, the Natural History Museum, Red telephone boxes, double decker buses and English Bobbies are of course on show, but multi -cultural bustling London is also there, saving it from a sickly sweet end. Not only is the story well told, but the dialogue is crisp, funny and fresh too.

The linguist daughter learns how to say "I have been accused of insider trading and require legal representation" in Chinese, and when Paddington is tied up in a chase wearing a policeman's helmet the local bobbies come to his aid with an "officer in distress" call. King has some fun with nods to other movies too. The scene where the cabbies code becomes "guidelines" under Inquisitor Nicole Kidman echoes Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, Paddington has to rescue his hat from a descending shutter blind as Indiana Jones did, and Kidman descends from a skylight in an attempt to capture Paddington as Tom Cruise did in Mission Impossible, with a further scene reprised as Paddington makes his escape up a metal vent shaft. Ninety minutes is about right for a family film and at 95 minutes, not a second is wasted, nor dramatic lull endured. Hugh Bonneville's scene in drag is more Les Dawson than Mrs Doubtfire and works in a surreal way, Matt Lucas gets his comeuppance as an awkward cab driver in a way that British MP David Mellor would surely approve of.

Some homespun philosophy about outsiders, family, and love, stay just the right side of schmaltz neatly reinforcing the story's wholesome credentials. The special effects are fabulous, particularly a flood, and the essentials, a hat, duffle coat and marmalade are all present and correct. A certainty to be around for many Christmases, and years, to come. Was the above review useful to you? 33 out of 52 people found the following review useful: The Bear Necessities from United Kingdom 1 December 2014 A wonderful adaptation drawn from the characters immortalised in the books, this film is a major success. Heart-warming and humorous without being mawkish or over-sentimental, the antics and escapades of lovable Paddington Bear will surely delight fans of all ages. How the animators achieved such a wonderful and memorable 'Paddington' is a minor miracle. His expressions and mannerisms are spot on, whilst the cast are obviously all enjoying themselves enormously in being permitted to perform in Paddington's World.

It is obvious that a great deal of love and affection has been injected into the making of this film; the acting, graphics, editing, sets and storyline are all virtually flawless, and you must surely be a soul with no heart not to find some modicum of pleasure from this 90 minute magical movie experience. I have deducted one star, which may seem a tad mean after such a glowing review, but that is simply because my family and I wanted the film to go on longer. And that is a sure sign of a good movie. Was the above review useful to you? 27 out of 41 people found the following review useful: A delightfully warm and funny family film from United Kingdom 1 January 2015 Well this was a wonderful surprise. Full of charm and wit, Paddington is an irresistibly heart-warming film that everyone in the family will enjoy. Everything from the quirky humour, to the British scenery to the wonderfully-animated bear himself is a true delight to watch. The cast are also brilliant. The Brown family feel genuinely real and easy to relate to.

I particularly enjoyed Huge Bonneville's amusing performance as Mr Brown, as he overcomes his initial distaste for Paddington and grows to love him as the rest of his family do. Other stand outs include Peter Capaldi, as crafty neighbour Mr Curry, and Nicole Kidman as the Cruella De-Ville-esque villain. However, the true highlight of the film is of course Paddington himself. Whether he's flying down a staircase amidst a pool of water or clinging on to a bus for dear life to give a man his wallet back, he lights up the screen with his presence. Yet it is his honest and virtuous nature that makes him so lovable as a character. Innovative and fresh , yet a fine complement to the books, you would do well to find a more pleasant and charming family film than Paddington. Was the above review useful to you? 29 out of 45 people found the following review useful: A Great Family Film from United Kingdom 9 December 2014 9 December 2014 Film of Choice at The Plaza Dorchester Tonight - Paddingon. I've been looking forward to this film for months and it didn't disappoint.

Just in case there is the remotest chance that nobody knows......Paddington is the tale of a bear from deepest darkest Peru who comes to London and takes up residence with the Brown Family. There are all the recognisable elements from the children's programme, from the blue duffel coat down to the marmalade sandwich kept in Paddington's hat for emergencies. The baddie was played exquisitely by Nicole Kidman, a job she seems to relish. Mr Brown was excellently played by Hugh Bonneville, who seemed to carry a tiny but welcome piece of Lord Grantham into the character. The addition of Julie Walters as Mrs Bird was inspiring as she manages to bring her usual brilliance to the old housekeeper who had been with the family for years. The animation was extraordinary and had the whole audience laughing out loud. There was an audible gasp at one point when Paddington was in peril, and viewers young and old all sat up in their seats hoping against hope that our hero would survive. I went with a group of people of which I was definitely the youngest, the oldest being 78. This is definitely a film for the whole family. Was the above review useful to you?

29 out of 45 people found the following review useful: A bear necessity. from 7 December 2014 There's plenty to be cynical about where Paddington is concerned. The first feature film about the iconic bear - red hat, blue coat, suitcase in hand - was first announced in 2007, and went through a gestation period that's extraordinarily long even for a heavily animated film. The trailer's (literal) toilet humour seemed to confirm that it was pitched firmly at kids. And last, but certainly not least, the cast experienced a shake-up of fairly seismic proportions when Colin Firth announced in July that - with the unanimous consent of all concerned - he would no longer be voicing Paddington. All signs pointed towards a disaster of a movie, one stitched together to cash in on rather than celebrate the phenomenon of Paddington, a little bear who has lived in books, TV series and cuddly merchandise around the world. It's a flat-out joy to discover, then, that Paddington is very far from a disaster. Indeed, it's an unmitigated delight of a family film.

Of course, "family films" don't really cater to everyone in the family a lot of the time - the phrase is a euphemism applied to movies that adults must put up with or suffer through for the sake of entertaining their children. But Paul King's Paddington, based on the beloved books by Michael Bond, really does have something for everyone and is, incidentally, an utterly lovely movie about families to boot. The young will be bowled over by the adorable bear who tumbles through London and into the hearts of his adopted family. The young at heart -and even a few older, crankier people - will find much to enjoy in the film's cheerfully subversive script. Our journey begins in Darkest Peru, where a young bear (voiced with pitch-perfect charm by Whishaw) lives happily with his Aunt Lucy (Staunton) and Uncle Pastuzo (Gambon). He inherits from them a healthy love for marmalade and London, as well as a floppy, red felt hat left behind decades ago by English explorer Montgomery Clyde (Downie). When an earthquake destroys their idyllic home, Aunt Lucy urges her nephew to strike out to London.

Many jars of marmalade later, he finds himself in the iconic train station that gives him his name. He meets the Brown family: risk- averse Henry (Bonneville), dreamy Mary (Hawkins) and their children, Judy (Harris) and Jonathan (Joslin). With Henry insisting that Paddington can only stay while he looks for a more permanent home, the bear begins investigations in London - unaware that Millicent, an obsessive, possibly crazy taxidermist (Kidman), has very specific reasons for wanting him to visit her museum. Strictly speaking, there isn't anything all that new or original about Paddington. We've seen the trope many times before - in trying to find a new home, a misfit changes the hearts and minds of the people who will eventually become his family. The narrative of the film is also little more than a patchwork of wacky incidents and hijinks: Paddington floods the bathroom while trying to come to terms with the "facilities"; Paddington apprehends a criminal through sheer good luck and his incredibly honest nature; Paddington and Henry infiltrate the top-secret Geographers' Guild to hunt down Mr. Clyde.

And yet, King has crafted something quite charming and magical around the bare bones of his story. The film practically radiates love for the sweet-tempered, unfailingly polite bear at its heart. A life-long fan of the ursine hero, King peppers his script with smart references to Bond's books, from Paddington's trademark 'hard stare', used to embarrass people into behaving better, through to the meddling interference of nosy, thrifty neighbour Mr. Curry (Capaldi). He's also updated and deepened the story to give the elder Browns their own emotional arc: Mary's determination to open her heart and home to a stranger is what eventually leads Henry to getting back in touch with his wilder, more fun-loving side. The film also looks quite spectacular, whether Paddington is surfing down a flight of stairs in a bathtub or we're allowed a dollhouse glimpse at the Brown family as they go about their lives. Most importantly, King infuses the entire film with a practically joyous strain of comedy and wit. Pratfalls and sight gags are accompanied by deliciously silly allusions to William Shakespeare and Mission Impossible.

Even the film's supporting characters get their own hefty share of comedy, whether it's housekeeper Mrs Bird (Walters) distracting a security guard by means of a booze throwdown or Mr. Curry falling instantly for Millicent to a smooth burst of Lionel Richie. Millicent herself is an inspired creation. Prowling through the film, togged out in figure-hugging snakeskin and wielding scalpels, she brings to mind and subverts the icy-cool blonde archetype most beloved of Alfred Hitchcock. The sharp script and stunning visuals would mean little without a cast wholly committed to their roles, and King has struck gold with his offbeat casting choices. Bonneville, a veteran of Downton Abbey, has no problem playing Henry's constant anxiety over his children, but also gleefully flings propriety to the winds as he slips into tunic and apron for a spot of howlingly funny undercover business. Hawkins lends Mary - the loving, tender heart of the household and Paddington's biggest champion - a soulful gravitas. Great as they are, however, the MVP here is Kidman.

Her fantastically manic performance as Millicent reminds us why it's a damn shame that she hasn't been in a comedy for years - she's so cheerfully unhinged in the film that she steals pretty much every scene she's in. It doesn't matter whether you're a fan of Bond's books, someone who only knows Paddington as a cuddly soft toy, or a neophyte who has never heard of this walking, talking, marmalade-loving bear. Paddington is a big, warm bear hug of a film, one that will enchant children and tickle adults, even as it grabs just about everyone by the heart with its charm and humour. Was the above review useful to you? 29 out of 48 people found the following review useful: A great Christmas movie... from Dubai 24 December 2014 "Paddington" by Paul King is just right for the festive season. The fluffy main character you just have to love. The animations are lovingly detailed and of irresistible cuteness. The humor is wonderful quirky and endearing. It was a welcome change to laugh many times about a film that is essentially free of blood and death.

Nicole Kidman is wonderfully funny and nasty as Museum Director whose vocation is the stuffing of animals. The Brown family with the great Sally Hawkins as mother and a sympathetic stuffy Hugh Bonneville as a father is full of hilarious absurdity. The Movie is one you can really watch and enjoy with the whole family and there will be no doubt that everybody will love it. Was the above review useful to you? Page 1 of 19: Paddington Bear: 13 things you didn't know - Telegraph Film news Paddington Bear: 13 things you didn't know As Paddington Bear prepares for his big-screen debut, we find out why there's more to him than marmalade and duffle coats Paddington: the children's literary favourite has a well-publicised marmalade habit By Alice Vincent , Entertainment Writer 8:00AM BST 10 Jun 2014 1. You'll never be able to find Paddington's address Windsor Gardens in west London: the disappointing real deal (Google) Paddington's address, 32 Windsor Gardens in Notting Hill, does not exist in real life.

Author Michael Bond amalgamated his parents' address at Winser Drive, Reading, with his own in Arundel Gardens. Tourists who descend upon the real-life Windsor Gardens in west London are often disappointed to find a street of council flats and no number 32. 2. Paddington might never have existed if Michael Bond had done his Christmas shopping earlier Before his fictional version appeared on page, Paddington existed as a real teddy bear. Bond saw it "left on a shelf in a London shop and felt sorry for it" on Christmas Eve 1956, and took it home as a present for his wife Brenda. The couple were living near Paddington Station at the time, so Bond named the bear Paddington and started to write stories about it, "more for fun than with the idea of having them published. After 10 days I found that I had a book on my hands. It wasn’t written specifically for children, but I think I put into it the kind of things I liked reading about when I was young." Related Articles 10 Jun 2014 3.

Paddington only arrived in England with his hat Although most will associate the bear with his sensible uniform of hat, coat and boots, the latter two garments arrived in England after he did. Paddington was given his blue duffle coat by The Browns shortly after they took him home from Paddington Station, and he received the boots for Christmas in the 1964 book Paddington Marches On. As for his old bush hat, that belonged to Paddington's uncle Pastuzo. 4. Jeremy Clarkson was the first person to have a Paddington Bear toy Jeremy Clarkson's childhood home in Doncaster, where the Paddington Bears were first created (Jackson Stopps & Staff) Aside from the original, of course. Clarkson's parents, Shirley and Eddie, ran a small design business called Gabrielle Designs. In 1972, Shirley made a prototype for the first Paddington Bear stuffed toy in the house pictured above and gave it to Jeremy, then 12, and his sister Joanna for Christmas. These early bears are now considered collectors' items as all of them were handmade in a small factory, latterly known as the Bear Garden, in Doncaster.

However, hardcore Paddington fans may want to go a step further and buy the house in which the toys were first created - it's currently on the market . 5. The demand for Paddington Bears was too much for Wellington boot producers to handle The earliest Paddington Bear toys were dressed in childrens' Dunlop wellies to ensure they stood up straight. However, Gabrielle designs had to produce their own boots - complete with paw prints moulded into the soles - after Dunlop struggled to keep up. By 1978, Gabrielle Designs were reaching the peak of their demand, having sold 87,000 in that year alone. 6. Paddington Bear is based on the Spectacled Bear The Spectacled Bear - why Paddington hails from Peru It's surprising that the earnest little chap wasn't given glasses. Bond wanted to Paddington to have "travelled all the way from darkest Africa", but was advised by his agent to change his country of origin due to the lack of bears in Africa. Instead, he picked Peru - home to the Spectacled Bear.

Paddington later reveals that his Peruvian name is Pastuso, although he was relucant to reveal this at first for fear that nobody would be able to pronounce it. 7. Paddington has always been a fan of cultural exchange In 1994, a Paddington Bear stuffed toy was chosen by English tunnellers as the first item to pass through the Channel Tunnel to their French counterparts when the two sides were linked up. 8. Paddington shares his voice with Badger and Watson Badger from the Eighties TV series The Wind in the Willows (and the 1989 spin-off, Oh! Mr Toad), and the older version of Watson in the 1985 Chris Columbus film, The Young Sherlock Holmes, were both voiced by Sir Michael Hordern, the actor who voiced Paddington in all 56 episodes of the bear's original TV series. 9. Moving away from marmalade proved messy Or at least it did in 2007, when the sandwich-loving bear switched to Marmite in an attempt "to try something different".

The results were disasterous, although presumably not for Marmite - the advert has been viewed nearly 90,000 times on YouTube. 10. Although Paddington has been involved in more unfortunate events In 2006, all the trout in a New Hampshire hatchery were found dead; the cause was a Paddington Bear toy blocking a pipe, causing the fish to be starved of oxygen. 11. And he caused a political scandal Mick Young, a cabinet minister in Australian PM Bob Hawke's government, was forced to resign in 1986 after failing to declare the contents of his wife's luggage at customs. The bag he tried to avoid paying duty on included perfume, dolls, handbags, and a large Paddington Bear. The scandal became known as "The Paddington Bear affair". 12. Google loves Paddington Paddington Bear is celebrated in a 2008 Google Doodle The search engine dedicated a Doodle to the bear on 13 October, 2008, to mark his 50th birthday.

Paddington was also brought up-to-date by Bond in Paddington Here and Now, which was published a few months earlier and put Paddington in the middle of the immigration debate. Although Paddington was never arrested, there was "a bit of a kerfuffle" when he was taken in for questioning by the police. There was, of course, a happy ending, but Bond used the book as an opportunity to explain: "a side of Paddington the Browns don't really understand at all: what it's like to be a refugee, not to be in your own country." 13. Beware the Pirate Paddington Bears The Gabrielle Designs advert against counterfeit Paddingtons in 1975 By 1975, Paddington Bear fever had reached such an intensity that pirate Paddingtons had become a problem. Eddie and Shirley Clarkson issued warning letters, legal correspondence and even an advert, pictured above, in the British Toy Magazine in an attempt to combat imitation bears. Shirley wrote in her book, Bearly Believable: My Part in the Paddington Bear story: "The problem was widespread.

There were little old ladies with arthritis knitting just one bear for the church bazaar on one hand, and on the other hand a large Jack the Lad toy manufacturer in Blackbook dressing cheap fairgound bears in duffle coats with boots made from oil-cloth. We made no distinction". Paddington Movie Review (2015) | Plugged In We hope this review was both interesting and useful. Please share it with family and friends who would benefit from it as well. Movie Review When he first shows up at London's Paddington Station, the smallish orphan bear with the bright red hat is feeling … a little lost, really. He knows he's been sent here from Darkest Peru to find a loving human family to take him in. The sign his aunt put around his neck says as much. But the reactions from the many Londoners bustling past him aren't quite what he expected. They hardly even listen long enough for him to politely introduce himself. Perhaps he isn't doing it right. His loving Aunt Lucy—who, by now, is settled comfortably in a home for retired bears—had told him about human ways, you see.

She assured him that they would "not have forgotten how to treat a stranger." After all, the English explorer who long ago met Aunt Lucy and her husband Uncle Pastuzo in the wilds of Peru had happily taken the time to teach them about everything from the joys of human speech to the wonders of marmalade. Are these people here all so very different? Finally, a human family does stop long enough to listen to the little bear. Well, actually the kind woman of the family, Mrs. Brown, stops to listen. Her husband, Mr. Brown, doesn't want to get involved. And their two children, Jonathan and Judy, aren't all that excited about the delay either. But the Mrs. can't bear leaving such a lonely little bear at the station on such a blustery, rainy night. She says they should at least take the talking fur ball—whom she cheerfully dubs Paddington—into their home for the night. Then in the morning they could direct him to the right people. Mr. Brown, who is an insurance assessor, worries over the ramifications, though.

Why, bringing a real bear into your home—even a talking one—increases a family's risk of damage by some 4,000%, he tells his wife. Mrs. Brown assures him that, again, it will just be for the night. And that's not such a very long time, is it? What could possibly go wrong? Paddington silently agrees to come, giving them all a beary grin. After a night of good rest, he can go padding around the city looking for the English explorer in the morning. And with the Browns' help he'll be certain to find his way. What could possibly go wrong, indeed? Well, it seems they're all about to find out in this cinematic adaptation of Englishman Michael Bond's series of children's stories he launched in 1958. Positive Elements After being orphaned at a young age and raised by his aunt and uncle, Paddington learns to talk human and to appreciate the use of human manners. And the young bear makes an effort to be polite in every situation. He often winds up in the midst of accidental catastrophes, but never from want of trying to do what's right and proper.

Paddington is also naturally inclined to look for the best in people in spite of their faults. He does so with the Browns and eventually wins them all over to his side. The nanny, Mrs. Bird, tells a reluctant Mr. Brown, "This family needs that wee bear every bit as much as he needs you." And Mr. Brown eventually comes to agree. He steps forward to defend Paddington, declaring, "We love Paddington. And that makes him family." Family is indeed a very important part of this pic. It's something Paddington is searching for with all his might. We see that when Mr. Brown first becomes a parent, his love for his newborn upends all his attitudes about risk and danger, transforming him into one protective papa. Later though, it's made clear that risk-taking can be very necessary when a family member is in danger … even a fur-covered family member. Spiritual Content Paddington is startled awake by someone's voice, and he asks, "Is that you, God?" Sexual Content To help Paddington look for vital information on the English explorer, Mr. Brown dresses up as a maid. A guard then proceeds to flirt with him. "It's unusually hot," Mr. Brown says, embarrassed.

"Just like you," the man replies. Later, several family members tease the straitlaced Mr. Brown about having to disguise himself in a dress. He stutteringly explains that it was "more of a housecoat, really. … It was somewhat liberating." Meanwhile, Mom seems A-OK with Judy's crush hanging out in her room. Violent Content Though played out as near-slapstick, the film's sense of peril is certainly one element of the Paddington story that's been ramped up onscreen. À la 101 Dalmatians' Cruella De Vil, the London Museum of Natural History's director of taxidermy, Millicent, is a vivid villain who has a room filled with dozens of animals she's captured and killed. We feel the threat in her voice as she turns on a squirming animal in a cage. And from the moment we meet her, she declares her desire to find and stuff the talking bear, Paddington. "Why?" a man asks her. "Is he endangered?" "He is now!" she gleefully replies. After that we see several scenes where she "hunts" the oblivious Paddington, shooting tranquilizer darts at him, etc.

She eventually does knock him out and kidnap him, and we watch her walk toward his prone form with a sharp knife in hand (before being interrupted and called away). When Paddington crawls into an unlit furnace and tries to escape through its chimney, Millicent turns on the unit's flames to stop him. She also suspends a taxi driver upside down to extract information from him. Accidently creating some of his own blundering danger, Paddington floods the Brown's home, causes a gas explosion in their kitchen, blows apart a building's pneumatic message-delivery system, and finds himself suspended 30 feet in the air, held aloft by nothing but an umbrella. Mr. Brown has a pin shoved into his arm when he lies about it being a prosthetic. A huge earthquake tears up the Peruvian landscape, destroying Paddington's tree house and (offscreen) killing his Uncle Pastuzo. Crude or Profane Language Millicent speaks of being called "dung-breath." Drug and Alcohol Content While the rest of the family attempts to rescue Paddington from Millicent, Mrs. Bird engages in a drinking game with a museum guard.

The two go through an entire bottle and start on another one, both getting drunk. An elderly man drinks a glass of wine. Other Negative Elements Paddington and Mr. Brown sneak into the British Explorer's Guild and break into someone's computer. A ship's horn subs in for the sound of passing gas. Millicent is hit with a load of horse manure. Paddington gets his head lodged in a toilet. Etcetera. Conclusion Soon after the movie's start, our notably disaster-prone furry protagonist shows up on a London railway platform with his aunt's hand-scratched message hanging around his neck. The note implores any passersby to "Please look after this bear." It's exactly the sentiment millions of Paddington Bear fans (spread out around the globe and over more than a half-century) wanted to convey to Hollywood filmmakers upon hearing that a live-action adventure was being made of the classic tale. And those filmmakers did. Mostly. Yes, things have been updated quite a bit. There's more falling-down-the-chimney peril in the going. A manufactured Nicole Kidman villain gets a little threatening with her tranquilizer darts and taxidermy knife.

There are just enough toilet humor giggles to make grumpy neighbor Reginald Curry harrumph. And there's a modern nod to a kind of "liberating" tolerance subtly woven into the subtext (something that can be seen from both sides of the moral mountain, if you will). But all those tiny tufts, bumps and bits of uneaten marmalade sandwiches don't quite bumble their way into upending a suitably plush and cuddly pic that gives three cheers to the importance of loving families. Pro-social Content

Question: Paddington Bear lives with which family?
Answer: Browns